In terms of propulsion plant stuff, some. Reactor scrams, losses of lube oil, electrical failures, etc. At the end we DID do a one-day outdoor pipe-patching trainer (since nukes go straight to submarines after Prorotype and donât do sub school, I understand they often donât get to do the flooding trainer there), which was a LOT of fun. It was late summer, and we combined it with my classâs picnic.
The phrase ârode hard and put away wetâ is a very apt description for the old MTSâs. Theyâre towed up to Norfolk periodically to refuel the cores, work on the hulls, repair systems etc (626 was actually getting ready to leave for one of those trips when I was starting Prototype), but it still doesnât change the fact theyâre very, very old boats being used basically for repeated transients (starting up and shutting down the reactor, lighting off and shutting down the steam plant, starting up and tripping out turbine generators and motor generators, connecting and disconnecting the electric propulsion motor, engaging and disengaging the clutch, warming up and shutting down the main engines, etc etc) day in and day out that are more stressful to the machinery than longer-term, steady-state operations would be, and the fact that itâs brand-new students (who never cease to find new and creative ways to break things, despite the best efforts of their instructors) operating, and things break. A LOT.
Because of that, the Navy is in the process of converting two older 688-class SSNâs to be next- generation prototype trainers. ex-USS La Jolla (MTS-701) is (theoretically) nearing completion in Norfolk and is (supposed to be) due in Charleston later this year, and ex-USS San Francisco (yes, that San Francisco) is (supposed to be) due in Charleston by 2021.
Hereâs a video showing an overview of at least some of the external work that Norfolk Naval Shipyard put out a little while back.
Love the Tunnan! DCS Module it now!
I was among the mountains too last Sunday!
Agree! That would be awesome!
It served in Congo⊠Would be an interesting conflict to simulate.
Cool info. Interesting that they tow it to Norfolk occasionally. That must be an interesting transit.
The disassembly and reassembly in the different configuration of the La Jolla is amazing to watch. I assume that nose ball is the housing for the active sonar array. Amazing engineering and what a huge scale project to do all that.
Mostly the passive array, actually. IIRC thatâs a series of hydrophones all over the bow sphere, which listen to the water around in all directions. The active emitter is a smaller unit on top.
Beautiful!
Some more photos from Fairford airshow (Iâll stop now I promise) light wasnât great and I took a 300mm lens for mobility as it was just me and the boy⊠I really needed my 600mm. But some interesting planes anyway you might enjoyâŠ
Ugly weather transiting Michigan this weekend. Over Milwaukee, the same system prompted the first pirep for extreme turbulence I have ever seen.
Hilton Head was nice though
WowâŠthat is one young looking RAF Flight Lieutenant! 
Thatâs red 5 your talking about! 
Oh man that looks like a great show! Love the little flight suit too!
Okay itâs officially too hot, even for me!
21.5°C this morning around 06:00, right now at 18:30 itâs still 39°C outside and tonight itâs not going to go below 23°C. Tomorrow they expect temperatures around 41°C 
Gotta say i really loved the GTA. People in the piemontese alps are awesome and the food was delicious. Going back there for sure, maybe even next year to continue from Alagna.
According to the DWD, temperatures hit 41.2°C around the time I rode through Duisburg-Baerl⊠Salt crust all over my clothes. Just happy that we should get some thunderstorms this weekend.
Yeah today was⊠far too hot for my taste.
Stole the words from my mouth.
Thank gods for cold beers.
